Many millions of seahorses are trafficked annually between tens of nations, with the great majority being dried for use in traditional medicines and as curios. We here outline data from almost three decades of study tracking the international traffic in dried seahorses.
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) frequently makes use of dried seahorses for sale. Some claim they can treat asthma, skin infections, impotence, and even serve as a substitute for Viagra. There is no scientific evidence that dried seahorse demonstrates the medical benefits it is believed to have, hence these beliefs cannot be supported by research.
More than 20 million seahorses for sale are traded annually around the world, most of them travelling from Thailand and the Philippines to Hong Kong, China, and Taiwan. In the last decade, seahorse populations in the Philippines have dropped by 70%. But even with these cuts, demand remains high and seahorse populations worldwide are in danger.
Although purchasing and selling seahorses is against the law, this has not stopped people from engaging in the activity. But even if the trade were adequately regulated, seahorses would still be hunted down and killed for their meat. This is because the great majority of seahorses are accidentally caught in the massive trawl nets that are designed to catch other types of fish. If not for the traditional Chinese medicine industry, seahorses would be considered “by-catch” and thrown away. As a consequence of this, the problem isn’t just with the demand; it’s also with the supply.
The incidental ensnarement of these animals by trawling nets is a problem, but an even more significant issue is the damage that these nets cause to the marine ecosystem. Their habitat is gradually deteriorating as a result of environmental factors and destructive fishing practices like as trawling, both of which are contributing factors.
We don’t need to resort to eating dried seahorses to maintain our sexual energy; we can do it without them. Nevertheless, we have a responsibility to protect them because of the important part they play in the natural world.
Purchasing of seahorses
Dried seahorses, for instance, can be purchased in a variety of colors and sizes; hence, wholesalers should stock a sizable inventory of dried seahorses in order to cater to the requirements of their clientele. On the other hand, dried seahorse fish is offered for sale by a number of distinct wholesalers, and it can be purchased in a wide range of distinct types and variants. Dried seahorse is also fairly widespread, as there are many varieties of dried seahorse fish available on different sites; nevertheless, wholesalers offer a large selection of dried seahorse items that can be purchased with us.
